Lara Croft's Wild West Adventureã
Tomb Raider Fan Fiction
Lara Croft's Wild West Adventureã
Tomb Raider Fan Fiction
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"It's beautiful, isn't it?" said Little Britches wistfully from beside her. Lara nodded, but did not turn. "Yes, it is. I'm glad I came. I've already had a good time and I've only been here ninety minutes." "I know we've just met, Annie. But, uh, I like you, and uh…" Lara turned to her in surprise. "WelI, I was wondering," Britches continued shyly, "if you'd be interested in throwin' in with me. We could be like, well, partners, that sort of thing. Something tells me we'll need to watch each other's back." Lara smiled and put a hand on the blonde woman's arm. "It's a splendid idea. I was just thinking the same thing. And we need to have a nice chat with Belle. Maybe John Wesley and Billy, too." The train's whistle blew, a long mournful blast. Lara glanced out the window and saw they were almost to a line of tree-covered hills. "Excuse me, ladies," said a voice from the aisle. "But you're both under arrest." Lara's head snapped around. It was Wyatt Earp, a pistol in his hand and a big grin on his face. "What for?" demanded Little Britches angrily. "We haven't done anything wrong." "I aim to make sure you don't," Earp replied evenly. "Now hand over them shootin' irons. When we get to Silverado, I'll make sure you get a nice little tour of the jail." Lara arched her eyebrows. "Be so kind as to go back and sit down, Mr. Earp," she replied, her voice filled with scorn. "You are blocking the aisle." Earp's grin disappeared in a hurry. "I guess you didn't hear what I said lady. You are under arrest. Now hand over those fancy guns of yours, or there will be trouble." "Let's just say I fail to comply with your, uh, request, Mr. Earp. What do you propose to do then?" To Lara's amazement, he raised his gun. "In that case, you'll get shot for resisting arrest." Lara's mouth was suddenly very dry. Would he really shoot? Right here on the train? The muzzle of his gun was only three feet from her face and despite Slim's assurance of safety, she didn't like it. She rose slowly to her feet, her hands gripping the back of the seat in front of her. When she spoke, her voice was stone cold. "Mr. Earp, or whatever your real name is, it is very impolite to wave a loaded gun in someone's face. Kindly point it elsewhere." He sneered. "Or else…?" "Or else, sir, I will take it away from you and beat you over the head with it." Britches turned to her in surprise, her eyes wide at the sudden steel in Lara's voice. Wyatt laughed, but there wasn't' the slightest bit of humor in it. "You're a real tough one, ain't ya, Miss Annie. Maybe you'd like to…" Suddenly there was loud click and the muzzle of a gun pressed again Wyatt's head. Lara saw Belle Starr step up behind the man. "Put the gun away, Wyatt." Lara's eyebrows lifted when she heard the tone of the woman's voice. Belle was quiet woman with curly black hair, and although she was well over 40, she was still quite attractive. Lara hadn't expected much from her, for she had seemed to accept her husband's lead in everything, but the look on the woman's face just now told Lara that her initial assessment might have been incorrect. How interesting. Maybe another ally? Wyatt lowered the gun, accepting the reality of the situation. "C'mon, Wyatt," called Wild Bill Hickcock from three seats away. "Give it a rest. We're not even to town yet. Let's see what we're up against before you go throwin' your weight around." Belle slipped her gun back in the holster and turned away, a scowl on her face. "I ain't forgettin' this, Belle," Wyatt called after her. "Before this is over you'n me are gonna settle up." Hickcock sprang to his feet, thoroughly angry. "I said that's enough, mister. Sit down and…" Suddenly it got darker. Lara glanced around in surprise. The train was passing through a narrow cut in the hill and the rocky face was only a few feet on either side of the car. Then there was a thump on the top of the car. And another. And another. Then footsteps. "Someone's on the roof!" said John Wesley unnecessarily. "Ambush!" shouted Lara. "Everybody take cover!" She urged her young partner out of her seat. "Hurry, Britches. We can't stay here." Everyone was trying get down behind the seats as Lara and Britches ran down the aisle toward the back of the car. Lara pulled her right hand pistol, pushed open the door, and stepped cautiously out onto the platform. The train had emerged from the cut and she saw a lot of horses tied nearby, their saddles empty. Good grief, she thought, there must be twenty five of 'em. The coast clear, she crossed to the second passenger car. She had just put her hand on the doorknob when a gunshot rang out behind her. As she whirled around, Lara's brain recorded that the sound was much softer than a real gunshot. Slim was right, the special blanks must loaded way down to help avoid injury. Smoke was coming from the barrel of Britches' gun, her revolver pointing at a man climbing down the ladder from the roof of the car. Lara brought up her own weapon. "You're dead, mister. Get down from there." The man finished climbing down, and when he turned his nametag was glowing a bright red. He looked to be about thirty, but Lara couldn't tell for sure because of the mask covering his face. "What happens now?" she asked. "I have a seat and wait 'till it's over," he replied disgustedly. There were more gunshots, including the boom of Hickcock's shotgun. When Lara looked back into the car they'd just left, outlaws were pouring into the other end. "C'mon, Britches," she yelled. "Let's hurry." The blonde woman needed no urging and soon they were racing down the aisle of the second passenger car. Just then the train jolted to a stop, and both women had to grab the back of the seat next to them to keep from losing their balance. More gunfire erupted behind them and when Lara glanced over her shoulder, additional outlaws were on the platform they'd just left, taking the defenders in the first car from behind. A man's face appeared in the doorway and his mouth dropped open when he saw the two women. "Get down!" Lara shouted and reached over, intending to push Britches into the seat across the aisle. But the girl was already kneeling dowb, gun in hand. Lara grinned as she took her own place. Little Britches would do just fine. Lara heard a squeak as the door opened and pulled her second gun, greatly wishing she had her 9mm automatics instead. She cocked both weapons and looked over at her companion. "Ready?" she whispered. Britches nodded. "Go!" Lara silently mouthed. The women jumped up together and the crash of their guns caught the outlaw a third of the way down the aisle. Between them they fired half a dozen rounds and the outlaw's nametag lit up. But it wasn't over, not by a long shot. The outlaw was just sitting down when another face appeared in the doorway. The women ducked behind the seats. "Think it'll work again?" Britches whispered. Lara shrugged as she cocked her guns. "Why not?" Suddenly she realized that it was quiet. There was no more gunfire from the other car. The squeak of the door warned them the intruder was inside. The women jumped up together, but were surprised to see two men in the aisle. Gunfire rang out and the first outlaw died instantly. The second man was shielded by the first, however, and had time to throw himself behind a seat. "I'm out," whispered Britches, frantically ejecting the spent cartridge cases from her gun. "Get back in the caboose," Lara replied. "I'll cover you." She knelt and peered over the top of the seat, her guns pointed up the aisle. Britches ran quickly for the door. The instant she pulled it open, the outlaw jumped up, intending the shoot her in the back. But Lara was ready. Her pistols flashed and the man's nametag lit up before he could get off a shot. Lara got up slowly and backed toward the door, her revolvers still pointed up the aisle. Suddenly she realized that she hadn't been counting her shots. How many did she have left? Four? Maybe five? She glanced over her shoulder and saw Britches go into the caboose, pulling shells from the back of her belt. She was safe. At least for the moment. Lara glanced toward the first car. The silence was deafening. Everyone else must be dead. She turned to the door…and gasped. There was a man on the platform, looking into the caboose. He was a tall man, dressed entirely in black leather, with a mask over his face. Beyond him, Britches was stuffing shells into her gun. The outlaw pushed open the door and the blonde girl looked up in surprise. Lara frantically pulled open the door, but she was too late. Britches was still loading her revolver when the outlaw shot her. The girl dropped her gun, grabbed her chest and staggered backward, her mouth open in surprise. "You miserable excuse for a man!" Lara yelled and emptied her guns into the man's back. Thoroughly angry, she pushed her way into the caboose. "Gee, lady," complained the outlaw, his nametag glowing a bright red. "Whatcha tryin' to do, kill me or something?" Lara ignored him and hurried to Britches' side. The nametag on the girl's shirt was also glowing. "Are you all right?" she asked anxiously. The blonde woman looked up. "I guess so." She rubbed a spot just above the second button on her shirt. "It burns a little." "That's the laser," replied the outlaw, taking a seat near the door. "Your clothes are impregnated with a special substance. When the laser hits it, it gets hot for a minute or so, so you'll know you've been hit. It doesn't last. I bet it's feelin' better already." Little Britches rubbed her chest and looked up in surprise. "You're right." Lara put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're not hurt." "Hate to interrupt, ma'am," the outlaw said. "But this battle ain't over. Spade's not gonna quit until everybody's dead. I'd best be makin' tracks if I were you." Startled, Lara pulled her guns and began punching out the fired cartridge cases, wishing again for her automatics and their ten round magazines. "Blondie, why don't you just make yourself comfortable," the outlaw said. "It ain't gonna take Spade long to realize he's got a couple folks missing. He'll finish with your friend in short order." Lara looked up from her pistols. "We'll just have to see about that, now won't we?" The man chuckled, but said nothing further. Lara finished loading. "Are you going to be all right?" she asked Britches. The girl nodded and Lara made her way to the back of the caboose, pulling open the door. "Good luck," Britches called after her. Looking right and left, Lara stepped out on the rear platform. No one in sight. Remembering which side of the train the outlaw's horses were tied, she crossed to the other side. She holstering her guns, and climbed down the ladder to the ground. Still no one in sight. What to do now? She'd have to hide in the woods and somehow make her way to Silverado. If she just followed the railroad tracks she'd get there eventually. She took a deep breath and hurried towards the trees. "Stop right there, lady." She'd gone but ten steps when the harsh male voice rang out behind her. "One more step and you'll get a bullet in the back." He was close and Lara knew she had no choice. She stopped and lifted her hands. "That's good. How about you just come on back here and join the party?" Lara turned and saw the big outlaw standing on the platform between the passenger cars. That's why she hadn't seen him. Silently cursing her bad luck, she walked dejectedly back to the train and climbed up the steps. The outlaw stepped back to give her room. "Don't feel too bad, ma'am. Ya did real fine. You and that little blonde spitfire shot five of my men. That's pretty good." "Next time, I'll shoot you, too," she snapped. He laughed. "I'll look forward to it, Miss, uh…" He looked at her nametag. "Miss Annie. Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name's Spade. I run these parts." "Not for long, Mister Spade." His eyebrows lifted. "Yeah? Well, I'll look forward to our next meetin', Miss Annie. Maybe you'll have better luck then." He gestured with his gun. "Right now, let's go and join the others." He motioned for her to proceed him into the car. She turned toward the door and felt a tug as her guns were pulled from her holsters. "I'll just keep these, since you won't be need 'em any time soon." Lara stepped into the car and saw her companions seated nearby. All of their nametags were glowing a bright red and Lara didn't think she'd ever seen a more demoralized group of people. Little Britches looked up and smiled when Lara sat down next to her. Then her eyes widened when she saw Lara's nametag. "You didn't get killed?" she asked in awe. "No, but I got caught. That's almost as bad." Spade tapped on back of a seat with the barrel of his gun. "Folks," he said when they were quiet. "Welcome to Silverado." He jabbed himself in the chest with his thumb. "My name's Spade. This here's MY territory. And I don't cotton to strangers sticking their noses in my business. That's why we're havin' this little meetin', so you know who's boss. Any questions about that?" No one spoke. Spade waited five seconds before continuing. "All right, now that we got that settled, let's get down to business. Everybody stand up and move to a separate seat. C'mon, get up." Everyone got to their feet except Doc Holiday and his wife. They just sat there, looking straight ahead. Spade walked over to the man. "Something the matter with your hearing, bub? I said, stand up." Holiday looked up. "We've had enough, Spade. This isn't what we expected at all. My wife is frightened." And so are you, mister, Lara thought when she saw the anguished look on the man's face. Holiday looked down in shame. "We want to go back." Spade pulled down his mask and knelt beside the unhappy couple, and Lara was surprised by the compassionate look on his face. "Folks, I'm real sorry you've had a bad time. And I'm sorry if you came here expectin' somethin' else. It's our fault if we didn't make it clear to you. When you get back to reception station, I'll make sure you get a full refund. We're not here to scare people." He stood up. "We've got a station wagon just beyond those trees, Doc. They'll take you back." He gestured to one of his men. "Chad, help Doc and his wife, will you? Chad, too, pulled off his mask and gently eased the couple from their seats and outside. Spade looked at the rest of the group. "Anyone else? Like I said, we ain't here to make anybody unhappy." He sighed. "The real west was a violent place, folks. It was easy to die if weren't real careful. You can die here, too." He smiled. "But at least you get to live again." He pulled his mask back in place. "All right," he declared, and the command was back in his voice. "Now take off everything but your clothes and put 'em on the seat next to you. I mean everything. All them fancy gunbelts. Coats, vests, rings, everything except hats, tops, bottoms and boots. Then empty out all your pockets and put that on the seat, too. This train's being held up by the Spade gang." Belle Starr raised her hand. "I'm not talking off my wedding ring, Spade," the woman declared forcefully. "Not for you or anybody." Lara's opinion of the woman, already high, went up another notch. Spade nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I understand. You keep it." Lara unbuckled her gunbelt and dropped it on the seat next to her, suddenly feeling rather helpless. Nearby, Little Britches was strangely quiet as she pulled some stuff out of her pockets. When he saw everyone was finished, Spade ordered them all outside, assuring them that their belongings would be safeguarded. Lara hung back, so she was last to leave. She stopped next to the outlaw leader. "That was very kind, Spade, what you did for Doc and his wife. They were in over their heads." He nodded. "Yes, ma'am. We try to screen them, but we're just getting started and we don't have everything completely worked out just yet." Lara made a mental note to include that in her report. Along with Spade's kindness. "Say," he said gruffly. "You didn't take off everything." She gave him a puzzled look and tensed when Spade walked up to her. Her first thought was to back away, but she made herself stand still. He reached up and began to untie her neckerchief. Something about him standing right in front of her made her shiver. She looked over his shoulder, suddenly nervous at his close physical presence. Spade slipped the neckerchief from around her neck and walked back to her seat, where he added the cloth and Lara's guns to her other stuff. "Okay, Miss Annie, outside with you. You and the others will have a nice long walk to town. When you get there, go to the doctor's office. He'll make your dead friends alive again." Lara nodded and headed for the platform. His voice stopped her. "One more thing." She glanced back over her shoulder. "You're a spunky lady, Miss Annie. But you show me your pretty backside again like you did a while ago, and I'll put a bullet in it for you. Clear?" "Clear, Mr. Spade," Lara replied, a twinkle in her eyes. "And you, sir, had better sleep with one eye open. If you close them both, you may have cause to regret it." Spade laughed. "Is that so? And I suppose you're some Lara Croft character, right?"
Chapter Two - The Train
Lara sat next to the window, gazing outside as the train passing through the alternating brown and green countryside.